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Living Hope SDA Church

Christian Martin

Behold Your Mother

Do you remember the very first prayer you prayed in your life?

And it happened earlier, very early in my life, very early.

The date was August 8, 1976 at approximately 920 p.m.

In Villa Libertador San Martin, Argentina, where I was born.

Within an hour of my birth, my mother prepared to feed me as only a mother can do, But just before she got started, she paused.

And with 1 arm she held me, and then with her other hand, she gently managed to hold my 2 tiny hands together.

And she held them tight and then she leaned over and whispered in my ear, Dear Jesus, Bless my food that I will now eat.

My first prayer, thanks to my mother, as my eyes attempted to focus on her comforting face that looked down at me.

Our message today is entitled, Behold Your Mother.

Our Father in heaven, we take this moment, Lord, to pause and turn our face towards you.

We know, Lord, that you long to communicate with us.

And I pray Lord that you would give us that discernment to hear that still small voice speaking to our hearts today.

There are several ideas regarding human relationships, particularly between a mother and her infant.

Simply put, it is based on a child's bond to their parents or caregivers.

He created us as social beings with the need to connect, with the need to emotionally and mentally connect.

And as a result, experience comfort, comfort as a human being during those early years, Shaping our ability to love and trust later in life as adults.

And this healthy emotional stage begins in early childhood with at least 3 crucial ingredients.

And if these 3 particular components are in place, a child is able to develop a healthy emotional state.

Significant studies have shown the incredible importance of touch on a baby's development.

The power of human touch, oh it cannot be underestimated.

Human touch can inspire positive thinking, expand trust.

The human touch can reduce social anxiety and stress.

It can even boost the immune system and lower blood pressure.

A parent just holding their child close to them will forever be a memory of comfort in the minds of their child.

Parents who ask questions, Parents who listen and validate their children's emotions and feelings show an interest in their heart and mind, thus creating a memory of comfort for their child.

When a child is noticed having a difficult time or going through a time of trouble, a hard time, and they're offered a safe place where they can share their troubles, The moment that happens, that child feels, they feel seen and noticed and valuable as a result.

Being touched and listened to brings relief to the young hearts and as a result, comfort.

So when a child receives these 3 crucial ingredients, they are left with a healthy imprint that will bring along blessings in their precious lives as they grow.

And you know, if there was anyone, anyone who knew a deeper love of bonding and intimacy, it was Jesus.

And if there was anyone who provided comfort in his childhood, it was his mother, Mary.

And so, are there biblical snapshots of his mother's loving care in the early life of Jesus?

As you know, as you've read through the Gospel, There's not a lot of information or content about the early childhood of Jesus.

And as I took a closer look, I found at least 5 snapshots of a mother's love towards her son Jesus.

And so let's begin with Luke, because the Gospel of Luke, of all 4 Gospels, contains the most details about his early life, particular his birth.

So come with me would you to Luke chapter 2.

5 snapshots of a mother's love and care towards Jesus as a young child.

Jesus' mother made Him feel secure rather than cast aside.

Luke records that she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

You know, there is a secret to how to keep a wiggly baby still and calm and sleeping more soundly.

I know that some of you experienced mothers can say, Hallelujah, Amen to that.

In fact, it's really not much of a secret, because it's an ancient practice.

And evidently a mother of Jesus had swaddling skills.

You see in the act of swaddling a mother must first place her hand gently on the baby's chest to keep him still and extend his legs straight down.

Then after the blanket is wrapped from over his left shoulder and across his body and tucked underneath, then you take the other side of the blanket and you do the same with his other side.

You wrap it of him around, you keep that arm straight down, you wrap it around with that blanket, then you do the same on the other side.

You tuck it under his body and you tuck it well.

And all the while, her mother, the mother uses her hands to keep that wiggly body still.

But a mother's gentle hands as she touches that baby, as she holds him, as she keeps him still, as she just places her hands around his little body, using her hands to keep his wiggly body still, enough to wrap tightly but comfortably, the child senses the human touch.

A mother's act of care helped Jesus feel secure as he adjusted to his life outside of the womb.

A swaddle kept Jesus warm and cozy thanks to his mother.

Second snapshot, Jesus' mother made him feel safe rather than abandoned.

You know the Nativity story, that same evening shepherds were keeping watch over the flocks and all of a sudden in the night sky there was a breathtaking sight that the shepherds saw and appeared before them.

Luke chapter 2, and it says, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude, rather, the heavenly host praising God and saying, verse 14, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.

So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to 1 another, let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us.

Verse 16, then they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

That same evening the shepherds saw the babe.

You know, and it says there that Jesus was in a manger.

So what can we know about the manger where Jesus slept that night?

Did you know that the word manger comes from the Latin word for chew or eat?

In Spanish, masticar, it has that same root word.

It refers to the trough where horses and donkeys and cattle eat or ate as they were kept in this shelter.

And you can only imagine that it was dirty at first.

When Mary and Joseph come to that shelter and see the manger, you can be sure that it was quite a sight.

It meant that Mary would have to clean that manger to make it suitable for her child.

It meant that this manger that was designed to hold scraps to be eaten would have to be cleaned.

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Behold Your Mother

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